Clinical Readiness Admissions and Progression Requirements

All immunization documentation must show your name, date and be verified by a medical provider. What do you do if you can’t find your records? In general, both children and adults will need to repeat some vaccines. For a few vaccines, blood tests can help determine if you are already immune to certain diseases.

You’ll be asked to submit one of the following requirements for the MMR vaccination:

• Vaccination series: Two vaccinations at least 28 days apart OR
• Serological proof of immunity
  • If your titer is negative or equivocal, an alert will be created in ClinicalStudent or CastleBranch and you will need to complete the vaccination series. (See vaccination series information in the first bullet.) 
• A post-vaccination titer is not required.

You’ll be asked to submit one of the following requirements for the Varicella vaccination:

• Vaccination series: Two vaccinations at least 28 days apart OR
• Serological proof of immunity
  • If your titer is negative or equivocal, an alert will be created in ClinicalStudent or CastleBranch and you will need to complete the vaccination series. (See vaccination series information in the first bullet.) 
• A post-vaccination titer is not required.

You’ll be asked to submit one of the following requirements:

• Documentation of a TDaP vaccine within the past 10 years OR
• Evidence of one dose of TDaP vaccine and a TD booster within the past 10 years

You must submit proof of the absence of active tuberculosis (TB). An initial two-step TB skin test (TST) or IGRA (blood test for TB) will be required before starting the programs. TB testing is required annually, and students must remain in compliance throughout the program.

• Complete an IGRA (blood test for TB) OR
• 2 Two-step TB Skin Tests (TSTs) screening as follows:
• If the first TB skin test (TST) is positive (+), an individual is considered infected.
  • You will then need to have a chest x-ray and complete signs/symptoms questionnaire to rule out active tuberculosis.
• If the first TST is negative (-), complete a second TST one to three weeks later. If the second TST is completed more than three weeks after the first TST, the student will have to restart the two-step screening.
  • If a second TST is positive (+), an individual is considered infected.
    • You will then need to have a chest x-ray and signs/symptoms questionnaire to rule out active tuberculosis.
    • If the second TST is negative (-) it is considered a negative (-) baseline.

Note

• Be aware of receiving a live virus immunization (such as varicella, MMR or flu), you will need your TST done at the same time or wait four weeks.
• TB screening compliance must remain current throughout the program.
• A chest x-ray is not permitted instead of TB screening.
• Refer to the College’s policy for documentation of TB screening.

• Documentation of a flu shot must be submitted yearly by the due date defined by the College.
• Documentation must be dated and signed by a medical professional
• Vaccination is required annually and individuals must remain in compliance throughout the nursing program.

Students do not have the option to decline a flu vaccine.

• Documentation of a COVID-19 vaccination must be submitted by the due date defined by the College.
• Documentation must be dated, and signed by a healthcare professional or clinical side, and must include the product name and the manufacturer.
• Individuals must remain in compliance throughout the nursing program.

It is the College's policy to maintain an alcohol and drug-free workplace. Students will be sent for testing for illegal substances after an admissions offer is made. Students who test positive on their drug screenings will have their Admissions offer rescinded.

Students may reapply for the next available start date. A new drug screening is required after an admissions offer is made. Applicants who provide an abnormally diluted sample will be required to repeat the drug test (retest).

The College and clinical sites reserve the right to reject the participation of any student based on the results of the screenings, immunizations or a background check. 

• Submit documentation of a color blindness screening dated and verified by a medical professional
• Screenings must be completed using a color blindness test that is approved by an ophthalmologist (i.e., Ishihara’s Test)
• Please contact the Clinical Readiness Coordinator if you would like to schedule an appointment to complete on campus.

• Submit documentation of Basic Life Support (BLS) for health care professionals through the American Heart Association
• Courses for lay rescuers such as Heartsaver® are not acceptable
• Certification must be renewed every two years and individuals must remain in compliance throughout the nursing program
• eCards are acceptable
• To find an American Heart Association BLS for health care professionals course, go to cpr.heart.org, and click on “find a course,” then scroll to Healthcare Professionals section and choose the appropriate BLS course.

• Download from the ClinicalStudent/CastleBranch website, print, read, and submit a signed copy of the CNE/KCANE Confidentiality Statement
• This must be updated annually while enrolled in the program

The student will be provided information on how to access the CNE Clinical Examination through ClinicalStudent or Canvas.

• Students must achieve a score of 90% or above
• The certificate provided upon successful completion of the CNE Clinical Examination must be uploaded
• The documentation must show the student’s name, the date the test was taken and the score achieved
• This must be updated annually while enrolled in the program

The background check is conducted by a qualified agency. All costs related to the background checks are the responsibility of the student. The background check shall include the following:

• Family Care Safety Registry
• Caregiver Background Screening (which authorizes a criminal background check from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a DMH Employee Disqualification Registry Report, and DHSS Employee Disqualification List Report), or another clinical partner, which completes the three agency check
• Missouri Highway Patrol Criminal Background Check
• Kansas Criminal Background Check
• Other State Criminal Background Check (previous residences other than MO/KS in the past ten years)
• Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Employee Disqualification List
• Missouri Department of Mental Health Disqualification Registry Report
• Office of the Inspector General
• General Services Administration/Excluded Parties List System
• Missouri Sex Offender Registry Nationwide Record Indicator Alias with SOI
• Kansas Bureau of Investigation Registered Sex Offenders List Nationwide Record Indicator Alias with SOI
• Other State or National Sex Offender List (previous residences other than MO/KS) Nationwide Record Indicator Alias With SOI
• Name, Social Security Number, and Address Verification Social Security Alert
• United States Treasury: SDN and Blocked Persons List website
• Employment Verification Separation and Re-Employment Verification Employment

After conducting the background check, students who have been involved in any of the following activities in the seven years before applying for the program may not be allowed access to clinical sites. Consequently, the prospective student’s admissions may be rescinded if:

1. The student has been convicted of any felony; or
2. The student has been convicted of any misdemeanor involving violence, sexual misconduct, theft or computer crimes, fraud or financial crimes, drug distribution, or crimes involving unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon.

The College can initiate a criminal background check for any student at any time. Refusal by the student to submit to the background check may result in the student’s dismissal from the program. 

• Submit the Signed Health Insurance Acknowledgment
• The health insurance acknowledgment form is available in ClinicalStudent/CastleBranch and must be signed and dated.

While we welcome all students into the BSN program, students who are not US citizens or permanent residents must provide proof of immigration status for clinical placement.

• Download from the ClinicalStudent/CastleBranch website, print, read and upload a signed copy of the Latex Allergy Policy form.
• Please immediately contact the Clinical Readiness Coordinator and the Director of the program for further required documentation if you have an allergy to Latex.

Download from the ClinicalStudent/CastleBranch website, print, read and upload a signed copy of the Student Clinical Site Consent form.

• Download from the ClinicalStudent/CastleBranch website, print, read and upload a signed copy of the Saint Luke’s Health System Confidentiality Statement.
• This must be updated annually while enrolled in the program.